Fast acting deluge valve for fire extinguishing systems



June 8 1965 w. E. AULT 3,187,499

FAST ACTING DELUGE VALVE FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS Filed June 5,1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [a I 55 57 54 v 9 5 50 5 Zia- INVENTOR Wayne EAu/zA ORNEY.

June 8 1965 w. E. AULT 3,187,499

FAST ACTING DELUGE VALVE FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHI NG SYSTEMS Filed June 5,1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Wayne EAu/z ATTORNEY.

United States Patent Ohio Filed June 5, 1962, Ser. No. 200,122 3 Claims.(Cl. Gil-26.1)

This invention relates to a fire extinguishing system and moreparticularly to a fast acting deluge valve for controlling a fluid fireextinguishing medium.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a fast actingdeluge valve wherein the actuating means is power actuated by anexplosive force.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a fast actingdeluge valve wherein the valve clapper is normally closed and latchedand an explosive charge actuated mechanism is used to unlatch theclapper.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a delugevalve for a fire extinguishing system and incorporating an electricallyactuated power impulse generating means for unlatching the normallyclosed clapper of said valve. 7

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a fastacting deluge valve having an explosive charge operated releasemechanism and wherein the explosive charge release mechanism may bereadily replaced after use. i

The fast acting deluge valve disclosed herein is particularly suited foruse in fire protection systems designed for hazards where utmost speedis essential for effective fire control and wherein the time elementfrom the inception of the fire to the extinguishment thereof must be theabsolute minimum in order to prevent the spread of the fire to a pointrendering it uncontrollable. For example, fires in missile propellantsand in comparatively fast burning materials require maximum detectionspeed and minimum time lapse in getting water or other extinguishingagent on the fire. The fast acting deluge valve disclosed herein isparticularly suitable for such hazards and when used in connection withdetection systems that operate in the range of milliseconds, the presentvalve responds instantaneously and well within the desired millisecondresponse range.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being the intention to cover all changes andmodifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposesof the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spiritand scope of the invention.

' The inventionis illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the fast acting deluge valve with partsbroken away and parts in cross section.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-section taken on lines 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the fast acting deluge valve with parts incross section and parts broken away and illustrating the after operationposition thereof.

FIGURE 4 is a section on line 44 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a diagram of a circuit used in the actuation of the fastacting deluge valve disclosed herein.

By referring to the drawing and FIGURES 1 and 2 in particular, it willbe seen that a fast acting deluge valve has been disclosed and asillustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 the clapper is shown in normal closedposition. The valve comprises a hollow body 10, usually a metal casting,having an access opening 11 in one side. thereof and an access openingcover plate 12 normally closing'the Patented June 8,1965

opening 11 and secured to the valve body 16 by a plurality of bolts 13,13. The upper end of the valve body It has a flange as at 14 and definesan outlet opening 15 while the lower end of the valve body 19 forms anannular inlet passageway 16 terminating at its lower end with anoutturned flange 1'7. An annular valve seat 18 is positioned on theupper end of the annular inlet passageway 16 and a clapper 19 hinged toa hinge pin 2% in the valve body 1% acts to normally close the inletpassageway 16 by registry with the annular valve seat 18.

A cross sectionally U-shaped annular gasket 21 is clamped to the bottomof the clapper 19 by a spider 22 and a bolt 2-3 in a manner so that thelower annular portion of the annular gasket 21 is spaced relative to theupper portion thereof so that water pressure in the inlet 16 will exertself-sealing pressure against the lower portion of the gasket 21relative to the annular valve seat 18. The clapper 19 includes a pivotedlatch arm 24 which is normally inactive and which acts to engageappropriately located bosses 25, 25 (see FIGURE 3) in the valve body 10when the clapper 19 opens, so as to prevent the accidental closing ofthe clapper.

By referring again to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will be seenthat the clapper 19 is normally held in closed position, as shown, by alatch arm 26 which is pivoted on a pivot pin 27 in the valve body 19 andthat it is normally spring urged by a spring 28 to latched posi tionwhere a portion of the latch arm 2e engages a shoulder 29 on the clapper19.

A link 36 has one end connected by a pivot pin 31A to the latch arm 26and its other end connected to one end of a connecting link or red 31 bya pivot pin 32A. The link 39 and the connecting rod 31 are located in asideward extension 32 of the valve body 10 as best seen in FIGURES 1, 2and 3 of the drawings, and it will be observed that a housing 33 issecured to the outer end of the extension 32 to form enclosing andmounting means for an explosive responsive actuating mechanism which isused to move the connecting rod 31, the link 30 and the latch arm 26away from the clapper 19 and the shoulder 29 thereof so as to free theclapper 19 and permit the clapper to open and thereby enable fireextinguishing fluid such as water to flow upwardly through the delugevalve.

The outer end of the extension 32 of the deluge valve has a threadedopening 34 therein in which a connecting rod bushing or double bushing35 is threadably engaged and which bushing has an axial openingtherethrough. It will be observed that the connecting rod 31 is disposedin the axial opening in the bushing 35 and that it is pro vided withannular grooves in which O-rings 36 are located to mount the connectingrod 31 in sealing relation to the bushing 35 while permitting axialmovement thereof. The bushing 35 has an oppositely disposed threadedsection 37 which is positioned through an opening 38 in the housing 33and a nut 39 is threaded thereon and engaged against the inner surfaceof the housing 33 and thereby secures the housing 33 to the delugevalve. A bolt 4% is positioned through the housing 33 and engages aportion of the extension 32 and secures the housing 33 against rotationrelaive to the deluge valve. The outer end of the connecting rod 31 hasa drilled and tapped opening therein and a threaded extension member 41on a connecting rod yoke 42 which together with member 41 constitutes anextension of rod 31 and constitutes part of the connecting linkisengaged in the threaded and tapped opening. The connecting rod 31comprises an impulse receiving member movable from a latched position toan unlatehed position.

In order that clapper releasing motion may be imparted to the connectingrod yoke 42, the connecting rod 31, the link 3% and the latch arm 26, anexplosive charge actuated mechanism is positioned in the housing 33 andcomprises a secondary housing 43 having axially aligned apertures in itsopposite ends and a cylindrical passageway extends therebetween. Apiston annulus 44 located inwardly from the ends of a piston rod 45 ispositioned in the cylindrical passageway in the secondary housing 43with one end thereof, that adjacent the connecting rod yoke 42,extending outwardly a sufficient distance so that an enlarged head 46 ofa bolt threaded into the end of the piston'rod 45 may be received by theyoke 42 so that movement of the piston rod 45 will be imparted to theconnecting rod yoke 42 thereby. The secondary housing 43 is providedwith an opening 47 in one side thereof adjacent one end thereof and anexplosive containing hollow plug 48 is threadably engaged therein.Electrical conductors 49 extend out of the plug 48 and continue toterminals referred to in FIG. 1 of the drawing and here broadly by thereference numeral 50 and referred to hereinafter and in FIGS. 4 and ofthe drawings separately as 513-1, 511-2, 58-3 and 513-4. These terminalsare located in the upper part of the housing 33. Conductors 49constitute part of a means for initiating explosion of the charge.

The opposite end of the piston-rod 45 is normally positioned within thearea of the apertured fitting 51 and a wire 52 extends through theapertured fitting 51 and through an aperture in the end of the pistonrod 45 and normally holds the same against movement. The secondaryhousing 43 is mounted in a recess in the bottom of the housing 33 by aplurality of bolts 53 and it will occur to those skilled in the art thatby removing the bolts 53, the secondary housing 43 complete with thepiston rod 45 and explosive charge containing plug 48 may be readilyremoved and replaced. A cover plate 54 having an annular flange 55thereon is threadably engaged on an annular shoulder defining theuppermost portion of the housing 33 and removal thereof provides accessto the explosive device and mechanism.

In order that the device will be automatically rendered inoperative atsuch time as the cover plate 54 is removed and an alarm given, a springactuated switch 56 including an upwardly extending plunger 57 is mountedon a terminal block 58 in which the terminals 58-1, 50-2, are alsolocated and which terminal block 58 is secured in the housing 33 by thebolt 40 heretofore referred to. The hollow plug 48 which encloses theexplosive charge incorporates a resistance element 59 as best seen inFIG- URE 5 of the drawings wherein a symbolic diagram of the actuatingelectrical circuit is illustrated. The resistance element 59 respondsinstantly when energized and the conductors 49, 49A extend therefrom tothe terminals 50-1, 58-2 heretofore referred to. The plunger 57 in theswitch 56 actuates a pair of switches 68 and 61 and is normally in thelower position as shown in FIGURE 5, and in FIGURE 1 of the drawings.

As illustrated in FIGURE 5 of the drawings, a conductor 49A extendsfromthe resistance element to the terminal 50-1, a conductor 62 connectsthe terminal 59-1 with the lower one of the switches 60, 61 and which isnomally closed and is thereby connected with a conductor 62A whichextends to another terminal (50-4) and a remote control switch (notshown). This is the firing circuit. The other conductor 43 extends toground by way of another terminal 56-2 and bolt 40, etc. A conductor 63extends from the remote control switch and power source (not shown) tothe ground to complete the firing circuit, and an alarm circuitconductor 64 extends to one side of the switch 60 which is normallyclosed and connects thereby with a conductor 65 which is grounded. Theconductor 64 is part of the actuating circuit for a fail-safe relayswitch (not shown) arranged so that when the switch 60 opens and breaksthe circuit the fail-safe relay switch (not shown) will close and givean alarm as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

It will be seen that a branch 49B of the first-mentioned conductor 62extends to an alternate position of the switch and that when the switch60 moves to the alternate position the first conductor 62 is groundedthereby insuring grounding of the resistance element 59 and preventingaccidental firing thereof.

In FIGURE 4 of the drawings, a top plan view of the terminal block 58may be seen and the plurality of terminals 541-1 through 50-4 inclusivetherein will be seen to be numbered and these same numbers are shown andreferred to hereinbefore in the symbolic diagram of FIG- URE 5 toindicate the respective connection points of the several circuit wiresnecessary to electrically actuate the fast acting deluge valvemechanism.

Operation The fast acting deluge valve disclosed herein requires anoperating means for triggering the explosive charge in the hollow plug48 so as to actuate the valve and open the same. Such operating meansmay comprise any suitable fire or heat detecting mechanism known in theart and capable of initiating an action or signal which in turn may beused to close an electric circuit. Such an energizing circuit isaccordingly connected to the appropriate terminals 50-1 through 50-4inclusive on the terminal block 58 and is therefore normally in circuitwith the resistance element 59 in the explosive charge. At such time asthe actuating circuit is completed by a remote control switch (notshown) the resistance element 59 fires the explosive charge and theexpanding gas thereof moves the piston 44 to the right as seen inFIGURES 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, shearing the wire 52 which has heldthe same in position and moving the connecting rod yoke 42, connectingrod 31, link 30 and the latch arm 26 to the rightand away from theshoulder 29 of the clapper 19 thereby freeing the same and permitting itto open as illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings.

By referring to FIGURE 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that theextreme right end of the piston rod 45 has emerged from the fitting 51on the secondary housing 43, the yoke 42 has moved to a positionadjacent the end of the secondary housing 43, the piston rod 31, link 30and the latch arm 26 have also moved to the right and the clapper 19thus freed, has moved from its broken line normally closed positionupwardly to solid line open position shown, whereupon the arm 24 hasengaged one of the bosses 25 and acts to hold the clapper 19 in openrelation to the inlet passageway 16.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the deluge valve isnormally in communication with a source of water or other fireextinguishing fluid under pressure which fluid source is connected tothe valve by fasteners extending through the flange 17 of the valve body10 and that the outlet 15 of the deluge valve is connected todistributing piping, nozzles, and/or sprinklers (not shown), locatedadjacent the hazard area. It will thus be seen that the fast actingdeluge valve disclosed herein incorporates a novel structure that ishighly efiicient and instantaneously responsive to an electric signalfor opening a fire extinguishing fluid control deluge valve and keepingthe valve passageway open and thereby meets the several objects of theinvention, and having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An apparatus adapted to actuate a latch restrained deluge valvecomprising a first housing and a second housing, the said housingshaving aligned opening in the walls thereof, a double bushing connectedat one end to the first housing and at another end to the secondhousing, said double bushing having an axial passageway therethrough, aconnecting link movably positioned in said axial passageway in sealingrelation with said bushing, said connecting link comprising a firstconnecting means at one end thereof adjacent the first housing adaptedto be attached to a latch restraining a deluge valve, said connectinglink having a second connecting means at its other end adjacent thesecond body, said second connectmg means comprising an axiallyadjustable extension, an

actuating device located in said second housing secured to theadjustable extension of said second connecting means, said actuatingdevice comprising piston means and cylinder means in cooperativerelation, said cylinder means being fixedly mounted in said secondhousing, said piston means having a piston rod in axial alignment withthe axial passage of said double bushing, said piston means furthercomprising a piston annulus mounted on the piston rod engaging saidcylinder means, said piston annulus together with the cylinder meansdefining an explosion chamber, an explosive charge positioning meanslocated in said cylinder means, explosion initiating means located insaid cylinder means, said piston means being moved away from said doublebushing to move the connecting link in a direction toward said actuatingdevice on explosion of said charge.

2. The apparatus as defined in and by claim 1, wherein said axiallyadjustable extension means comprisesa yoke having a thread and tappedopening at a first end and a second opening leading to an enlargedchamber at the other, said second opening and chamberbeing furtherJULIUS E. WEST,

characterized in that they extend through a side of the yoke.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a means forrestraining the first and second housing against relative rotation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,115,091 10/14Murray ZOO-50.1 1,869,204 7/32 Lowe 251-73 X 1,882,700 10/32 Allen et al60-26.1 X 1,914,250 6/33 Gillen 60-261 X 2,398,461 4/46 Rider 251-73 X2,502,470 4/50 Martin 60-26.1 X 2,815,882 12/57 Connell.

2,994,563 8/61 Ruggiero 60-261 X 3,017,894 1/ 62 Chilcoat 137-693,049,868 8/62 Adams 60-261 Primary Examiner.

ISADORE WEIL, Examiner.

1. AN APPARATUS ADAPTED TO ACTUATE A LATCH RESTRAINED DELUGE VALVECOMPRISING A FIRST HOUSING AND A SECOND HOUSING, THE SAID HOUSINGSHAVING ALIGNED OPENING IN THE WALLS THEREOF, A DOUBLE BUSHING CONNECTEDAT ONE END TO THE FIRST HOUSING AND AT ANOTHER END TO THE SECONDHOUSING, SAID DOUBLE BUSHING HAVING AN AXIAL PASSAGEWAY THERETHROUGH, ACONNECTING LINK MOVABLY POSITIONED IN SAID AXIAL PASSAGEWAY IN SEALINGRELATION WITH SAID BUSHING, SAID CONNECTING LINK COMPRISING A FIRSTCONNECTING MEANS AT ONE END THEREOF ADJACENT THE FIRST HOUSING ADAPTEDTO BE ATTACHED TO A LATCH RESTRAINING A DELUGE VALVE, SAID CONNECTINGLINK HAVING A SECOND CONNECTING MEANS AT ITS OTHER END ADJACENT THESECOND BODY, SAID SECOND CONNECTING MEANS COMPRISING AN AXIALLYADJUSTABLE EXTENSION, AN ACTUATING DEVICE LOCATED IN SAID SECOND HOUSINGSECURED TO THE ADJUSTABLE EXTENSION OF SAID SECOND CONNECTING MEANS,SAID ACTUATING DEVICE COMPRISING PISTON MEANS AND CYLIDER MEANS INCOOPERATIVE RELATION, SAID CYLINDER MEANS BEING FIXEDLY MOUNTED IN SAIDSECOND HOUSING, SAID PISTON MEANS HAVING A PISTON ROD IN AXIAL ALIGNMENTWITH THE AXIAL PASSAGE OF SAID DOUBLE BUSHING, SAID PISTON MEANS FURTHERCOMPRISING A PISTON ANNULUS MOUNTED ON THE PISTON ROD ENGAGING SAIDCYLINDER MEANS, SAID PISTON ANNULUS TOGETHER WITH THE CYLINDER MEANSDEFINING AN EXPLOSION CHAMBER, AN EXPLOSIVE CHARGE POSITIONING MEANSLOCATED IN SAID CYLINDER MEANS, EXPLOSION INITIATING MEANS LOCATED INSAID CYLINDER MEANS, SAID PISTON MEANS BEING MOVED AWAY FROM SAID DOUBLEBUSHING TO MOVE THE CONNECTING LINK IN A DIRECTION TOWARD SAID ACTUATINGDEVICE ON EXPLOSION OF SAID CHARGE.